Condenser



J. MMIIN CONDENSEH FilC-Bdl May 3l, 1924 an in any niet `l t UONJDENE.

Application tiled May 31,

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction ot radiators for internal combustion engines or the like and in particular to a means for preventing loss of the i cooling Huid therein through evaporation durin the normal operation of the engine.

diators tor automotive internal combustion en ines are normally constructed with an over ow or vent tube leading from a point rc near the top or lling neck of the radiator to a point near the bottom of the radiator where it is adapted to discharge outside the radiator the cooling tluid which overdows into the overow tube due to overflling of the radials tor or expansion of the Fluid by heat.

This overow or vent tube is always open and during the normal operation of the engine a small amount of steam or vapor is continuously formed from the coolin duid and au escapes through the drainage tu e so that there is a continual loss of the Huid which necessitates frequent refilling or the radiator.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide a means tor preventing the escape te et these vapors under normal operatin eonditions so that they will be retained 1n the radiator' and condensed and returned to the cooling Huid, but which will permit the escape thereof when the pressure of the vapors to exceeds a predetermined maximum.

other object ot the invention is to provide a condenser ot the kind described which is simple to construct, unlikely to get out of order and may be used without interfering way with the normal operation of the radiator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condenser of the kind described, which may be formed as a part of' the radiator cap to and which may be carried by the radiator ca and concealed in the filling neck of the ra iator but which will not interfere in any v with the lling of the radiator.

other object of the invention is to protn vide a condenser of the typevdescribed which will automatically indicate to the driver of the automobile or the operator of the engine when the pressure exceeds the predetermined maximum and that a condition of danger is tu imminent.

Various other objects and advantages will occur as the description o1 the invention proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings, which un illustrate one form of embodiment of the invention.:

192A. Ferial No. 71h31.?.

. filling neck 2 of the radiator 3 and formed as part of the radiator cap A, but it is to be understood that the condenser could be placed in any other position on the radiator, it being only necessary that when the condenser valve 5 is opened communication is established between the radiator 3 and the overow tube 6.

When the condenser is positioned in the hllin necks, as illustrated, the neck 2 is provideo? with a ledge 7 through which drainage tube 6 projects into the filling neck, and the cap A is provided with a tube like projection 8 adapted to seat upon the ledge 7, when the cap is screwed into the lling neck, td forni a Huid tight joint therewith.

lnside the projection 8 there is a tubular boss 9 adapted to receive and guide the stem 10 of the valve 5 which seats on the seat12 in the lower end of the projection 8. A coil spring 13 is positioned on the outside of the boss 9 and urges the valve 5 toward its seat 12. A plurality of holes 1A permits communication between the inside of tubular projection 8 and the space 15 in the iilling neck above the ledge 7.

1f desired the hole 16 may be made in the top of the cap 4 and a tubular valve stem 10 be used, so as to permit the tube 17 of an ordinary temperature indicator or motormeter 18 to project into or through the condenser to Contact with the steam in the radiator, to indicate the temperature of the cooling fluid.

lin' the operation of the condenser, the cap f1 and condenser are removed by unscrewing the cap 4f as in the ordinary radiator, the radiator is filled through the hole 19 in the ledge 7 and the cap screwed back in place to seat the bottom of the projection 8 on the ledge 7 1n the normal operation of the radiator the vapor which forms from the heated :Huid rises to the top of the radiator and finding no escape it is condensed on reaching the cooler top portion of the radiator or upon Stopping of the engine and returned to the lll@ fluid in the radiator. When however an excessive amount of vapor is formed so that the pressure in the radiator exceeds the strength of the sprinor 13 the valve 5 is lifted from its seat 12 and tlie vapor or fluid escapes through the hole 19 into the tubular projection 8 and thence through theV holes 14 and drainage tube 6 to the outside of the radiator. When the pressure is reduced to the desired amount the valve 5 is again seated and the condensing of the vapors resumed.

Figure 4 illustrates a slightly modified form of construction, in which the overflow tube i is extended by the passage 6a to a point adjacent the top of the filling neck 2 where it communicates with a groove 28 around the top of the filling neck. The cap 4 is provided with a tubular projection 29 closed at its lower end by a plug 30 which forms the seat 31 for the spring pressed valve 5 constructed as described in connection with Figure 1. A plurality of holes 32 extend through the walls of the tubular projection 29 and communicate with the groove 28 to permit the escape of steam and water through the tube 6 when the valve 5Il is opened by excess pressure in the radiator. The top of the filling neck 2l and the cap 4 are screw threaded to permit screwing of the cap in place as in the usual construction.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 the valve stem 10 has connected therewith a lever 20 which projects through the cap 4 into the casing for the indicator 21. A signal device 22 which may comprise a pair of different colored discs 23 and 23a mounted on a pivot 24 is .arranged .to be operated by the lifting o f the valve 5 off its seat, to move the disc 23 from the window 25 and show the disc 23a at the window 25a to give any appropriate warning signal to the driver that an excessive amount of steam is being formed in his radiator so that if the danger signal persists after the valve 5 is first opened he may investigate the cause of the trouble.

In the particular embodiment illustrated the end of the lever 2O travels in an inclined slot 26 in the connecting member 27 for the discs 23 and 23 so that the lifting of the valve stem elevates the disc 23a and lowers the disc 23 and vice versa, it is to be understood however that any appropriate signal other than that shown may be used to indicate the lifting of the valve 5 from the excessive steam in the radiator.

While the invention has been described largely with the view that water is the cooling fluid normally used and that steam is the vapor to be condensed, it will be obvious that the invention is especially valuable in preventing the loss of the alcohol where alcohol is used to prevent freezing in winter and for the condensing of vapors from any other cooling fluid.

In compliance with the patent statutes I l said have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention but is to be understood that various modifications and changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention 'or scope of' the claims and that parts of the invention may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine radiator, a water chamber, a filling neck therefor, a ledge in said filling neck, an overflow tube projecting through said ledge and into said filling neck, a cap for said filling neck, a tubular projection on said cap adapted to form a fluid' tight seal with said ledge, a valve in said projection, a spring normally holding the valve closed and a plurality of holes through the walls of said projection to permit fluid to flow from the water chamber through the same in'to the overflow tube when the valve is open.

2. Iu an internal combustion en fine radiator, a water chamber, a filling neel; therefor, a ledge in said filling neck, an overflow tube projecting through said ledge and into said filling neck, a cap for said filling neck, a tubular projection on said cap adapted to form a fluid tight seal with said ledge, to prevent communication between the water chamber and the overflow tube, a valve in said projection, a sprin normally holding the valve closed, a plurality of holes through the walls of said projection to permit fluid to flow from the Water chamber through the same into the overflow tube when the valve is open, and means projecting through the cap for indicating when the valve is open.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine radiator compising a fluid chamber and an overflow tube, of means normally preventing the escape of fluid from chamber to said overflow tube but adapted to permit such escape when the pressure in said fluid' chamber exceeds a predeter. mined maximum, and means to indicate when the fluid is escaping.

4. The combination with the radiator of an internal combustion engine of a valve to normally prevent the escape of fluid, but adapted' to open when the pressure in the radiator exceeds a predetermined maximum and discharge the fluid beneath the radiator and visible means to indicate when the valve is open.

5. In an internal combustion engine radiator, a water chamber, a filling neck therefor, a ledge in said filling neck, an overflow tube projecting through said ledge and into said filling neck, a cap for said lling neck, a tubular projection on said cap adapted to form a fluid tight seal with said ledge, a valve in said projection, a spring normally holding the valve closed, a. plurality of holes through the walls of said projection to permit fluid to flow from the water chamber through the honore some into the overflow tuhe when the relre is open, ond visible means to india-,ete to the driver when the valve is open.

fi. ln am internatl combustion engine radiutor, n Wnter chamber, o filling neck therefor, u ledge in seid filling neck, an overdow tuhe projectinoF through seid ledge and into seid filling nec :i copy for said filling neck, n tuhulair projection on seid carp adapted to form et Huid tight seal with seid ledge, n volte in seid projection, e spring normally holding to dow from the wnterohumher through the sume into the orerow tuhe when the relire is open, und n, Visible signal operated lo the l .opening of the relive to indie-site to the that the pressure in the radiator exceeds the predetermined maximum.

ln testimony whereofl here tti signature to this specification.

lil" f' iter ed my et' 

